The precious moment when a 10-year-old hears for the first time out of his right ear

WATCH the poignant moment when a 10-year-old realises that his life has opened up to a world that he was only partially hearing about. See the video

PIERCE Cooper’s eyebrows raise and he smiles in complete awe.

It was the moment of recognition that for the first time in the 10-year-old’s life he could hear from his right ear.

“Whoaaaaa that was surprising ... this is awesome,” he said, as the doctor taps the table at the same moment a cochlear implant in Pierce’s right ear was switched on today.

“I’m not really hearing talking but I definitely heard.”

Then, a few moments later when the doctor taps the table again, Pierce’s elation is obvious.

“This is sooooo good,” he said.

The 10-year-old, of Ashton, underwent surgery three weeks ago and today his right ear was fitted with a cochlear implant and switched on.

At three weeks of age, doctors diagnosed Pierce, now aged 10, with profound deafness in his right ear and moderate deafness in his left ear.

A grab from the video of that life-changing moment for Pierce Cooper.

It meant he could not hear out of his right ear, and at four weeks old he was fitted with two hearing aids.

Since he was four months old, the Cora Barclay Centre has helped him with regular auditory and verbal therapy.

His mum Sarah Carlson, of Ashton, said her son had coped well in life with his hearing but the chance to get a cochlear implant fitted was a dream come true.

“About three years ago our doctor (at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital) came to me and said she was getting ready to go to an international conference which was having papers presented on peadetric implantation of cochlear implants,” she said.

“She came back and was prepared to implant him — she thought he was a good candidate because he had always tolerated his hearing aid well.”

Ms Carlson said Pierce’s hearing would continue to improve as he got used to the implant.

“He (Pierce) just thought it was wonderful, he was incredibly happy, very excited and positive about the whole experience,” she said.

“It will basically help him to participate more fully in education and in social conversations in a variety of different settings.”

Pierce agreed.

“I love it — it’s already so much better, it’s not disturbing and it’s tickling.”

Originally published as The precious moment when a 10-year-old hears for the first time out of his right ear